by Suzy Shearer
“I only want to tell her I’m sorry. I read the papers. Let me go! Fuck! You’re hurting me, let me go!”
It seemed only moments before the place was swarming with police. I learned later that Peter and John had come to the hospital in a police car and two officers were outside with the vehicle. John came back inside, followed by a doctor. I was trying to breathe and ask questions at the same time. Holding my hands hard over my chest, I was convinced I was having a heart attack. The doctor took my pulse and ordered me to relax.
Yeah, as if that was going to happen!
Maybe I overreacted, but with what had happened to me, I kind of lost it. Finally, the doctor threatened to give me a sedative and keep me in hospital if I didn’t calm down.
That did the trick. There was no way I was going to stay in this place a minute longer than I had to. John had been talking quietly to me all the time, telling me I was safe. At last, I could breathe normally and the pain in my chest finally disappeared.
The hospital got back to a semblance of normalcy and the doctor began talking to me about my discharge. I honestly had no idea what he said but I could see John nodding his head and asking a few questions. The doc left and John smiled at me and kissed me gently again.
“It’s okay, my dearest. He’s gone. They’ll send him back to jail because he broke the conditions of his bail and the restraining order.”
“Why was he here? I don’t understand.”
“He kept saying he’d read you’d been hurt and where you were. Said he wanted to apologize and make sure you were okay.”
I shivered. “He’s really creepy.”
“That he is, but he won’t be bothering you ever again.”
I let John comfort me until one of the nursing staff came in and handed over my discharge papers.
“Your appointments for facial scans have been made and the dates are in the envelope, along with the report for your own doctor. This is the cream for your burns. The doctor wants you to put it on twice a day for the next week. There’s also the drops for your eyes. Use them for the rest of the week twice a day. This cream is for your bruising. It’s what we’ve been rubbing into them. It will soothe as well as help them heal faster. We’ve given you some painkillers and a script in case you need more, but my suggestion would be to only use them for the next couple of nights then after that only when you really have to. Stick to paracetamol. You’ve a two-day course of antibiotics.”
“Thank you.”
“Anabelle can go now?”
“Yes, we’ll have someone bring a chair around and take you downstairs.”
“Okay.”
John helped me dress and then a porter came to wheel me off into the sunset. John went ahead to bring his car to the entrance and helped me inside. I was thankful to finally be out of the hospital. I still hurt in so many places. My eye was swollen and half shut and it was very hard to walk with the stitches in my heel, the pain from my ribs and my bruised stomach, but I was never so happy to leave a place as that hospital, even though everyone there had been wonderful.
I almost cried again when we pulled into the drive and John parked on the top alongside the front door. He wanted to carry me inside, but I refused. I needed to walk, I needed to know I was back on my feet. Slowly and carefully, we walked inside. Okay, I hobbled. John walked beside me, taking most of my weight, and I made it all the way from the front door down to the main living room alongside the open-plan kitchen. I sank onto a settee in relief as John took the paperwork and medications and put them on the kitchen bench.
“Sweetheart, do you need anything?”
“No, just you.”
He came and sat alongside of me. Taking my hand, he kissed each fingertip.
“I’ve been very worried, hun, what happened?”
“In case you hadn’t guessed, that was my old boss. As soon as I rang and told them who we were up against, the Director put him on the first plane out. At the same time, he started a very intense investigation. There had to be a leak for someone…” John counted off on his fingers. “One—to know I was in Australia and, more importantly, two—that you and I were together.”
“Okay, and this Peter was at the meeting?”
“Yes, along with the Deputy Commissioner, Inspector Clemson, and Sergeant Cooper, he was the TOU officer in charge when we went in to rescue you. They—the DC, Peter, and Clemson went over everything a few dozen times. They had Cooper’s report and mine and the recording Clemson made of your statement. By the time we finished, it was about two-thirty in the morning. Peter got a car to drive him and me back here for a few hours’ sleep and then we went to pick you up.”
“Tell me, does that mean you’re not in any trouble?”
“None. Mind you, it wasn’t appreciated that I went over heads to get reinstated. I got rapped over the knuckles and I had to sign a statement that it would never happen again, but apart from that, no problems.”
“I was panicking. I kept thinking you were in jail.”
“That wasn’t going to happen, sweetheart. They were legitimate kills.”
I lay back against the settee cushions, my mind kind of mixed-up, but at least I knew John wasn’t in trouble.
“You relax and I’ll make you some lunch. Did you have breakfast?”
“I think I did, I honestly can’t remember. I was so worried about what was happening with you.”
He stood up, kissed me softly, and went into the kitchen. I closed my eyes and I was pretty sure I nodded off. Next thing I knew, John woke me. He’d made a tomato and cheese omelet for me. I sat up and ate, finally letting it sink in that I was home and the worst of my ordeal was over. I wasn’t sure how I was going to cope with it all, but at least I had John beside me.
“The gang rang. I told them to leave it until tomorrow to come, gives you today at home. They were staying the weekend here so instead they’re coming for lunch. Charlie said he’d pick up meat for the barbecue. He was going to ring Becky and work out food. Dean Cooper wanted to call in to see how you were, and I told him to come tomorrow as well.”
“Dean Cooper?”
“The sergeant from the tactical unit.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I was glad we had today alone. I didn’t feel like facing anyone else. Once I’d finished eating and John had cleaned up, we sat together. I wondered what Peter Hamilton had to say, but I didn’t have long to wait. A half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. John showed him in and made tea all round, including a cup for the officer who’d driven Peter down. He was now settled on the deck with his. After a few generalities, Peter told his story.
“John has told me he has spoken with you about his previous occupation without going into details?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then you know that the department arranged a funeral while he was in hospital, then we shipped him out here. The Director and I were concerned we’d found a mole in the department who had given information which led to John’s injuries. I wasn’t satisfied that he was the only one and took my concerns to the Director. We decided the only ones who would know John was alive would be the two of us. Between us, we handled the transfer of him out here.
“I let it be known that he’d left me his apartment. It was feasible because we were friends outside of the office. I arranged for his personal effects to be loaded into the container and sent it here, but it went via a convoluted route. To anyone who checked, it appeared that it was being donated to a charity working in Africa. Everything seemed okay.
“We bustled him out of the country once he was back on his feet in a fashion. I’d arranged the purchase of this house and his two-week stay in the villa. The Director pulled strings with the Police Commissioner here in New South Wales, which meant everything was handled between the two of us.”
“So how did I fit into it?”
“My mistake. I rang the villa after John had been there a week to make sure he was okay. I spoke with the owner who told me he’d made
friends with you and gave me your name.”
“How could you get my name? I tried to get John’s number and last name from them and they refused.”
“I applied a little, shall we say, police leverage.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, naturally, I did a background check on you.”
“Naturally? Why the hell would you do that?”
John squeezed my hand and said rather angrily, “Was that truly necessary, Peter?”
Peter silenced him with a look. “Of course. Remember, I still had doubts that we’d caught the only mole. Then immediately you arrive in Australia, you fall into a relationship with a woman. Naturally, I’d be suspicious. I quickly discovered Anabelle here was exactly who she said she was. Anyway, I closed the file on John, saying he was deceased, but my notes on Anabelle were in it without mentioning anything except her name and address.”
John groaned. “And the mole read them and wondered why you were investigating a woman in Australia in relation to Gordon Jennings if Jennings was dead.”
“Exactly.”
I mulled over what I’d heard. It made sense, but then why didn’t they follow John when he drove me to work a couple of times? I asked Peter and John. John actually laughed and that most certainly wasn’t the reaction I was expecting.
“They paid a druggie to follow you. They told him to stick to you and if you drove to my house, he was to let them know.”
“But I didn’t drive to your house. Last week I stayed at my old place because of the Expo.”
“Exactly. I came over a few times and stayed overnight, but that stupid idiot took their words literally. They said to stick to you and wait until you drove to my house, so he did.”
“That’s crazy!”
“Yes, but you have to understand, Anabelle, Smithers was still using drugs the whole time. As a matter of fact, he admitted that from Saturday to Tuesday he was completely out of it. He’d been given five hundred dollars as a down payment and decided you weren’t going anywhere until the salon opened again on Wednesday. He found his dealer and went on a three-day binge.”
Peter continued after shaking his head in disgust. “When the others found out that’s when they decided they’d grab you and get the information they needed. Of course, they had no idea John’s name had been changed for his safety.”
I sorted through everything in my head.
“So the … the mole didn’t know he’d been given a new name?”
“No. There was only a limited amount of people who had access to the file. Neither the Director nor I wrote down John’s new name. Then the fact you were taken narrowed down the field to two people. I got a phone call yesterday from the Director who said they’d caught the person. A woman in a high position, I have to admit surprise. She’d been with the department for many years but apparently money can buy a lot of things, including people. She was arrested boarding a plane yesterday morning, on her way to the Cayman Islands. She’ll be spending the rest of her life at her Majesty’s pleasure.”
I shuddered. To think I’d almost been raped and killed because my name was in a file somewhere. My face much have shown my horror because Peter regarded me and nodded his head.
“Honestly, Miss Rowley, you are very safe now. The information on you as been deleted, no trace remains. We are confident that no one can associate John with any of his previous aliases. I sincerely apologize for what happened. If there’s anything you need, any medical expenses to be covered, please let us know and they will be taken care of. I’ve taken the liberty of notifying one of the police counselors. They’ll contact you next week.
“At this stage, you may not want to do any talking or even think you need an outside person to speak with, but believe me, it will help. Ask John, he knows the value of counselors and the fact that the one who will see you is with the police means they are au fait with the case.”
Grimacing, I said, “Thank you,” but I was secretly horrified to know someone else would hear my statement. I guessed I couldn’t prevent it, but it still embarrassed me to know even more people had heard it.
Peter stood and shook hands with John. Then they did the man-hug-back-thumping thing. He held out his hand and I shook it.
“I wish we could have met under better circumstances, Miss Rowley. I’m very happy for you both. John needs someone to cherish, someone he can look after and who’ll care for him. I hope I can come and visit you both under happier circumstances next time I’m in Australia.”
“Thank you, Peter, and call me Anabelle or Ana.”
“Thank you, Anabelle. Good luck to you both.”
John saw him out and came back to sit alongside me.
“It’s scary to think simply because we met someone had to investigate me. I mean, I kind of understand, given your previous life, but all the same.”
“Try not to think about it, sweetheart, it’s all over now. Now all you have to do is get well.”
I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. Every part of my body ached. I had a rotten headache. It was all catching up, I’m sure. My foot stung and the rest of me throbbed each time I moved.
“I told the hospital to send any charges to Peter.” He looked down at me. “How about you lie down for an hour?”
“I think I will.”
He helped me up and I limped into the bedroom. Then I decided I’d lay on one of the big double sun lounges beside our room. I wanted to be outside. I wanted to smell fresh air and watch the river. John brought out a pillow and thick blanket, making sure I was all tucked up.
“Want one of the painkillers?”
“I don’t want one, but I think I need one.”
He smiled and left the deck, returning a moment later with one of the pills and a glass of water. I swallowed them down and settled against the pillow. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d sleep but I did. The next thing I remembered was waking in a lather of sweat in John’s arms.
I’d dreamed about Mr. Knife and Scarface. This time I didn’t black out when I was hit and they were doing things to me. I kept sobbing and John soothed me, trying to get me back to this planet. Finally, it worked and I clung to him as the last fragments of the nightmare vanished.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, this will vanish. The memories will get easier to bear. I’ll be with you always to keep you safe.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
John
I made sure Anabelle was in bed early after dressing her wounds. It was the first time I’d seen the burns and I had trouble keeping my hands steady as I rubbed on the cream. She didn’t stop whimpering as I put it on and it reinforced exactly how happy I was that I’d filled Riley full of slugs.
The next day the gang arrived and took charge. I realized at that moment that I’d been living on a knife’s edge since Charlie had rung to tell me Anabelle had been kidnapped. I’d only had about fifteen hours’ sleep since it happened, and now it was over, I kind of deflated. Charlie must have seen through my bravado. He and Justin rail-roaded me into sitting with Anabelle while Justin directed operations. It showed how drained I was—I let him without a murmur of resistance.
Anabelle’s eyes still were red, swollen, and bloodshot. The bruises on her face, and the rest of her body, were out in full-force. I almost wept every time I saw her, at every gasp of pain she made as she moved. I’d given my life if I could have traded places with her, but all I could do was care for her like the precious gift she was. I made sure, even though she didn’t like it, that she took the pain meds—at least for the next few days and then she could take Tylenol. But at the moment, it didn’t make sense for her to try and live with the agony that I knew she was in.
We set her on one of the sun lounges under cover to make sure the sun didn’t hurt her eyes. Becky put a big floppy hat on Anabelle’s head to be on the safe side, and I made sure there were pillows and a table within reach of her. It made me remember when we met and how she’d cared for me. Now it was my turn.
About twelve thirt
y, there was a knock at the door and I told Charlie I’d go because I was sure it would be Dean Cooper. I was right. He had a large bunch of flowers and we shook hands.
“Hi, Pommy. How is she?”
“Come and see for yourself.”
“Can’t stay, Have my wife in the car. I promised I take her out for lunch.”
I glanced past him and saw a woman’s silhouette in the car.
“Bring her in. We have a few friends here for a barbecue. They all wanted to reassure themselves that Ana was okay, so come in please.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
I grinned and said, “I intruded on your op, feel free to intrude on my lunch.”
“Since you put it that way,” he said and laughed.
He was still laughing as he went to the car and spoke with his wife. A moment later, they were both at the open doorway.
“This is Jen, my wife. Jen, this is the Pommy.”
“Hi, Jen, call me John. Most people, except your husband, that is, do.”
With them both laughing at my comment, I led them outside to the others. Charlie took charge and within a minute had Jen eating out of his hand. Dean sat alongside Anabelle after being introduce all round.
“I’m very sorry for what happened to you.”
“Thank you for rescuing me. John told me what happened.”
“Yeah, well I think I gave the Pommy here a hard time, but I’m glad he was on my side. You’re a hard-arse, Pommy, but I’d be exactly the same if the circumstances were reversed.”
“You didn’t do too badly yourself, Slick.”
Truthfully, I admired the man. I didn’t know that I would have been as, shall we say, as accommodating as he was by getting saddled with me. I’d be proud to have him by my side in a fight. Dean smiled at Anabelle.
“I’ve got a present for you. John told me you’d lost this during your kidnapping.”
She looked askance at him as he put a hand in his pocket and pulled out her bracelet. She went to take it and then squirmed back in her seat. I knew what was going through her head. She was likely sure Dean had found it in the factory, sure one of the fuckers had taken it. I didn’t blame her. I’d already decided to buy her a new one. Dean must have seen her fear in her face.